'Knitting Nancy' Adelaide Fringe Exhibition Opportunity

Calling all Adelaide owls crochet & knitters!!!

Guess what? The Adelaide Brown Owls have been contacted by Irving Baby! (shop at 33 Twin St, Adelaide) to be a part of a knitting/crochet exhibition at the 2010 Fringe Festival.

A letter to the Brown Owls from Irving Baby!:

Hello Brown Owls,

I am inspired by your crafty skills and invite you to join me in an Adelaide Fringe Festival Exhibition celebrating knitted and crocheted hand-made treats and the lovely people who make them.The exhibition is to be called "Knitting Nancy" and will feature character portraits in pen and watercolour (by me) and lots of knitted and crocheted objects (made by you)I am interested in what inspires you to work with wool and what objects you love to make using the craft skills of knitting and crochet. Everyone has their own little woollen story to tell and I hope to capture this in the exhibition. I look forward to meeting more Brown Owls and having some fun spreading the love of art and craft.

Trenna IRVING BABY!

New and Vintage Fashion

Exhibition details....

Exhibition name: Knitting Nancy

Fringe Dates: 19th Feb – 14th Mar

What it will involve: You making one or more crochet or knitted things (eg. animals, creatures, vehicles, people, food, really just about anything) which represents your personality. Your item/s must be ~15cm or bigger so as to reduce shop theft (or if you make little things they could be placed into a glass cabinet). Your item/s can be up for sale at the exhibition if you wish (20% of sales will go to Irving baby as commission). However if your creation was made from a purchased or copyrighted pattern you won’t be able to sell it (unless you have permission of course).

Exhibition location: Irving Baby! shop on Hindley Street.

Payment: $20 to contribute to the total $330 Fringe Visual Art Exhibition registration fee.

Perks: Seeing your own artwork in a Fringe exhibition and being able to call yourself a Fringe Artist - WOW! Each individual artist gets a Fringe Artists Pass entitling you to discounts on some events and merchandise, and advertising through The Fringe Guide and website.

**IMPORTANT**

If you would like to join us in this exciting adventure please email us at adelaide-brown-owls@hotmail.com with the following extremely important details:

- First Name & Surname,
- Contact Phone Number/s,
- Email address,
- Home Address and
- An artist’s statement/short paragraph about your crafty adventures (why you like knit/crochet, what drove you to begin crafting and/or the inspiration for your knitted/crochet item/s)

All by… Monday 5th October (we have to have the submission in to the Fringe Office on the 16th). Money can be paid at the next Brown Owls meeting on the 14th Oct or we can send you bank details to send the $20 straight to us.

Please email us at adelaide-brown-owls@hotmail.com if you have any questions.

C'MON OWLS!!!

Let’s show Adelaide how fun, creative, quirky and cute crocheting and knitting can be!

From the very excited Cathy, Cherry, Tracey & Irving Baby!

Brisbane Brown Owls Fly the Coop!

It was a great turnout of members and invited guests to our big day out on Sunday.

(Nook - 19 Browning Street, West End)

Big thanks go to Michelle who was kind enough to open her sweet little shop, Nook to us for an hour of exclusive shopping.

(Brisbane Owls and guests frenzied shopping of handmade and eco loveliness)

We then headed down the road for a morning of coffee, craft and chatter at Lock'n'Load.

(Crafting up a storm at Lock'n'Load)

Don't forget to mark your calendars for our next meet on 18 October at our usual venue for a session of Ninyogami (Japanese Paper Dolls) with Melanie.

See you all soon :)

Wet Felting with Gillian & the Adelaide Owls

The Adelaide Brown Owls had a wonderful time last Wednesday learning how to make felt beads. Such a lovely time that we forgot to take photos... (Sorry everyone!)

Gillian did an amazing job preparing bead kits for everyone in the most brilliant colours and included a how to guide so we could all practice at home too.

Personally I found it akin to meditation - one of the most relaxing crafting few hours I have had.

Our next meeting will be on the 14th of Oct - Will post about that soon. Plan is for BYO and a swap.

ps - Adelaide Owls, keep and eye out for an exciting announcement coming soon.

Melbourne - Monday 5th October - BYO Craft, Wine and Cheese

When : Monday 5th October
Where : Fitzroy Learning Network - WOOD ST entrance
What Time : 7.30pm - 9.30pm
What : BYO Crafting!
Bring : a bit of cheese or dip and some wine if you would like!
We'll have tea and coffee on hand - and a corkscrew too!
Who : 20 spots available
Swap? If you'd like to do a crafty swap - bring your swap along - and comment below too!

RSVP on this post if you would like to come.

xx Pip

Sydney Owls October Meeting

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 7 October at our usual venue: Berkelouw Books in Liechhardt.

This meeting will be BYO craft, and the beginning of our Softies for Mirabel project.

Image source: Meet Me at Mikes

Inspired by Pip's Softies for Mirabel in Melbourne the Sydney prefects think we should get on board with this worthy cause - our softies will be donated to The Mirabel Foundation in Sydney.

So for our meeting next week please bring along any softies books or patterns for inspiration and any fabric scraps to swap/share. Of course you can always knit or crochet your softie if that's more your style.

If you're going to join us please RSVP in the comments for this post.

Oh and this might be our last meeting at Berkelouw, so it would be great if you could have a think about any potential Owl venues in the city, inner west or inner east. Edit: No longer a problem! We still get to meet at Berkelouw for free!

See you next week!

Brisbane Owls - change of cafe venue for Sunday

Hello Brisbane Owls

For those coming along on Sunday the cafe we're going to after Nook has changed from 3 Monkeys to Lock'n'Load.

Lock'n'Load
142 Boundary Street
West End

See you then!

Reminder - Brisbane Owls Big Day Out!!

Hi Brisbane Brown Owls.

Just thought I'd post a quick reminder about our next meet up on the 27th (next Sunday).

Please RSVP by today if you'd like to come along to an exclusive shopping spree at Nook (that's right folks, Michelle is opening the store just for us!!) followed by a morning of crafty good times at Three Monkeys in West End.

Check out the original post for all the details!!

See you there.

Perth Owls Night Meet

Greetings Owlettes of Perth.

Our next meeting will be a little bit different this time. Since the last Saturday of September also means Grand Final Weekend, we decided to move the meeting 2 days earlier. :*)

So if you are free on Thursday the 24th September 2009 do come and join us at the Exomod in Mt Lawley for a little bit of Stitchin' and Bitchin'.

Details are:-

Date: 24th September 2009

Time: 7pm onwards

Craft: Crochet, knitting or embroidery.

Address: 615 Beaufort Street Mt Lawley WA

RSVP by 23rd September 2009 simply by commenting on this post.

See you there ladies. :*)

Adelaide Felt Bead Workshop 23rd Sept

Gillian (aka Silly Gilly) has offered to teach us all how to make Felt Beads! If you'd like to join in on the wet felting fun then read on...

Photo from Gillian’s blog

When: Wednesday 23rd September. 7pm til 9:30pm

Where: The Box Factory - Adelaide Community Centre, 59 Regent St South Adelaide

Numbers: We have room for 25 owls - the first 25 to RSVP are IN! You need to comment ONLY once when you RSVP with your name and initial (eg Cherry G!). Please only RSVP for one person on your comment to keep it fair.

Super Important --->You'll need to bring:
- a bar of soap
- a towel
- a plastic container (about the size of an ice-cream container)

* Note: In case we finish early you can BYO craft for after the workshop

Cost: Total of $5.00 (breakdown....$2 coin donation for The Box Factory PLUS $3 which will get you enough wool roving to make 3 felt beads)

See you there!

Cherry, Cathy, Tracey & Gillian

Top End Brown Owls

Hello Darwinians,
We are having a meeting TODAY at 2pm to discuss dates and activities for future Brown Owls meets. I will be there, and Bianca will be there, and Bianca's secret crochet-savvy friend will be there- YAY!
If you can't make it, feel free to comment here with ideas.

When? TODAY (Thursday) at 2pm.
Where? The Beachfront- Casuarina drive, Rapid Creek.

And just so you know- our last Brown Owls meeting was a big bunch of fun! We made owl brooches and had lime-infused beer and chocolate cake.

Canberra Brown Owls - crafty catch up!

Helloooo Canberra Owls!

Our next Canberra Brown Owls meeting will be Sunday September 27 from 2 pm!
Can you believe it is September ALREADY?!
By my calculations that means 7 ace Owly meets so far AND also 7 brand new projects!



Sometimes one afternoon isn't quite enough to get those crafty bits finished, so this month we're having a 'catch-up' afternoon to work on just whatever you would like.

So, bring along something you want to finish from a past meeting, something you're working on at the moment or something you'd like to share for show and tell!
AND speaking of show and tell, we'd love to see something that you've finished at home after a Brown Owls meet too!

You should also bring $6 for room hire, and, if you would like, something delish to share for afternoon tea is always welcome! =D

Please RSVP in the comments, and pop any questions you have there too!

Thanks, and can't wait to see you there!

xo Bron

Rad-elaide freezer paper capers!

With Melissa's expertise the Adelaide Owls really were a busy bunch of productive ladies on Wednesday. Another great night with lots of laughs, new faces and even some fabric and clothing pattern sales for charity *yay*!

We will see you again soon for a Wet Felt Bead workshop on the 23rd Sept.

xx Cathy, Tracey & Cherry

Sydney Brown Owls Meet - Thursday 17th September

Sydney Brown Owls our next Lane Cove meet is Thursday next week.

When : Thursday 17th September 7pm -10pm
Where : Centrehouse, 178 Longueville Rd Lane Cove
Cost : $5 for the hire of the room
Bring: Snacks to share and a cup for tea or coffee

Theme: Screenprinting and Stamping

We are going to explore the world of Gocco's and stamping. Lisa has volunteered to bring along her Gocco to show us how they work. If anyone else has a gocco and would like to share it with us please bring it along.

If anyone has any other kinds of printing that they want to share with us - stamping, screen printing, freezer paper stencilling or eraser carving - we would love to see it.

Please RSVP in the comments below so that we know you are going to join us

Lets get messy!!!

What have snow leopards, yarn and Brown Owls got in common?

More than you'd think!

Have a look here, more from Mongolia.

Brisbane Owls: RSVP for the Brown Owls Big Day Out

Brisbane Owls: It's time to RSVP for Brown Owls Big Day Out!

Date: Sunday 27 September

Time and Venue

9:30 am - Meet at Nook, the fabulous new shop for handmade and eco at 19 Browning Street, West End. Michelle has very kindly offered to open the shop on a Sunday for an exclusive retail therapy hour just for Brown Owls! This is a very special offer so please do come along to meet Michelle and to support all the wonderful crafters represented at Nook. It's also a great opportunity to do some early Christmas shopping so save your pennies!

Then:

Crafting at Three Monkeys cafe in West End (bring small crafts suitable for cafe crafting to avoid disappointment). Tea and coffee won't be provided but you can purchase hot and/or cold drinks at Three Monkeys (58 Mollison Street, West End).

Please RSVP by leaving a comment on this post by Friday 18 September.

** Brown Owls are welcome to bring a guest to this meet up, just let us know in the comments when you RSVP **

See you then!

Adelaide gets freezer paper happy :D

The fabulous Melissa has offered her expert stencilling skills and we are going to try our hand at stencilling onto fabric using Freezer Paper from the USA!!!

When: Wednesday 9th September. 7pm til 9:30pm

Where: The Box Factory - Adelaide Community Centre, 59 Regent St South Adelaide

Numbers: We have room for 20 owls - the first 20 to RSVP are IN! You need to comment ONLY once when you RSVP with your name and initial (eg Cherry G!). Please only RSVP for one person on your comment to keep it fair.

Super Important --->You'll need to bring:

- a printout of a design you want to stencil (A5 size or smaller)
- something you want to stencil on to (t-shirt, tea towel, fabric),
- a pencil for tracing the design on to the freezer paper,
- an exacto or paper cutting knife,
- a paint brush (or 2 - one finer + one larger) and ...
- a plastic lid or some kind of paint palette

* Note: In case we finish early you can BYO craft for after the workshop :)

Cost: Total of $5.00 (breakdown....$2 coin donation for The Box Factory room hire PLUS $3 which will get you an A5 piece of freezer paper, and access to fabric medium, and paint)

Here are some great places to start looking for a stencil or for a bit of information about the process.

http://painting.about.com/od/freestencils/tp/free-stencils.htm

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/04/make_tshirt_stencils_from.html

http://www.flickr.com/groups/fpstencils/

See you there!

Tracey, Cherry, Cathy and Melissa

Your favourite crafty tools!

Much like my photos, Sydney Brown Owls last night was a bit of a blur. Time goes so fast when you're having fun. Last night, we chose the theme bring a favourite or unusual tool for show and tell. I thought I'd mention some of the gems that Sydney gals can't get along without:


- chopsticks for turning corners and filling fiddly softies
- clover hera markers for scoring fabric
- clover finger presses for opening seams
- ergonomic clover crochet hooks to make life a little better
- colour wheels for picking shades
- sample yarn charts for buying wools
- clover yoyo makers
- mylar piecing templates
- fine grade sandpaper for keeping fabric templates from slipping
- fiskars - christina re paper slicers
- self-healing cutting mats
- bias makers in every brand

- wood-handled awls for papercraft
- millinery turning rods for turning thin straps
- bodkins for running ribbon and elastic
- triangle blade snappers for utility knives
- boning tools for folding paper
- jam jar scrapers for the kitchen
- and this:


the Sydney gals would love to hear about your favourite crafty tools! If you've got a great secret up your sleeve, do share here in the comments or leave a link to the tools on your blog!

Sydney Owls in the News

A month or two ago, the Sydney Owls had a few guests at our meeting including a photographer and writer from AusPost's new Australia Today magazine. They were doing a piece on craft groups and the Brown Owls are at the forefront of this trend. But we all knew that didn't we?

It's a pretty ace article and sums up what the owls do - make, learn, teach, share, chat, eat and give. The new magazine is only $3.50 and available at your local Auspost. We're in the September/October issue on page 34. If $3.50 is too steep for you, there's a coupon for a dollar off at their website. Don't the Sydney gals look tops? (I can say that because I'm the empty chair in the photo.)

Don't forget Sydney Owls, we meet tomorrow night! See the sidebar for details.